Girgenti

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a town of Sicily, near the site of the ancient Agrigentum, on the S. coast, 84 miles S. S. E. of Palermo. The town is the seat of a bishop, and has a trade in grain, oil, fruit, sulphur, sumach , salt, and fish. Its port is Porto Empedocle. Pop. of district, 409,000. GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA. A national organization having for its object the general welfare of girls, giving them through wholesome pleasure those habits of mind and body which will make them useful, responsible women, ready home, civic, and national affairs of the and willing to take a definite part in the country. The association was founded in 1912, and the movement became popиlar, numbering in 1920 over 82,000 members, representing an increase of 40 per ganization is non-sectarian and non-parcent. over the preceding year . The ortisan. The activities are designed to bring to the girls the opportunity for home, and in the community. Woman an all-round life, indoors, outdoors, at is recognized as a producer, a consumer, and a citizen, and the girl scout is trained toward these ends . Throughout all the activities is the definite ideal of character building . The governing body is the National Council, composed of representatives from local councils and other members elected by the National Council. National headquarters are maintained in New York to carry out the policies of the National Council. A local council may be organized in any community. This is a body of men and women, representing the schools, churches, social and civic organizations, playgrounds, newspapers, and such bodies as the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Clubs. This council is organized for the purpose of promoting and supervising girl scout units in the district. The unit of organization is the patrol of eight members each. One or more patrols form a troop, and they are grouped whenever possible according to age and congeniality. Each patrol has a leader and a corporal, and each troop a captain. The captain may choose lieutenants to assist her. It is advisable that a troop of two patrols have a lieutenant, and that for every additional two patrols another lieutenant be secured. Each troop selects for its name a flower, tree, shrub, or bird. The members wear the emblem over the left pocket of their uniforms. Troops may be formed in connection with any church, school, playgound, settlement, or other institution or organization. Unattached troops are also successful. Troop meetings are held weekly, with the program fairly divided between recreation and education. Any girl from ten to eighteen years of age, who is willing to subscribe to the promise and laws required of candidates, to the effect that they will try to do their duty to God and country and make certain resolutions, may become a scout after passing a "tenderfoot" test. Captains are over 21 years of age and are commissioned by the National Headquarters on paying a fee of 50 cents. There is a fee of 25 cents for each scout, and a subscription to the agazine is also re- "American Girl" magazine quired. Parallel organizations exist in Hawaii, Russia, Norway, Central America, Alaska, Denmark, the Philippines, West Indies, Great Britain, Palestine, Canada, Australia, Poland, Serbia, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, New Zealand, and China. In France a similar organization is called "Les Eclaireuses," and in England there are Girl Guides. In 1920 a campaign was set going for funds to aid the organization.